Focus Scripture Passage

Isaiah 58:1–12 

Lesson Focus

Faith and true worship are more than traditional practices. God calls for active repairers of justice who model peacemaking. 

Objectives 

The learners will… 

• review their personal meaning of fasting. 
• explore three parts of Isaiah scripture: 1) faithlessness and unrighteousness; 2) faithful fasting; and 3) “If…Then” statements. 
• identify how current scripture calls the congregation to respond faithfully in mission. 

Supplies 

• Bibles or printed copies of Isaiah 12:1–12 (end of lesson) for small group activity (at least one per small group)  
• Pens or pencils 
• Community of Christ Sings (CCS) 

Notes to Teacher

In preparation for this lesson, read “Exploring the Scripture” for Isaiah 58:1–12 in Sermon & Class Helps, Year A: Old Testament, pp. 42–43, available through Herald House. 

Gather

Activates background knowledge, prepares, and motivates for lesson (15% of total lesson time)

Greet class members and welcome them to greet one another. 

Offer a prayer of gratefulness for God’s abiding presence with each one today. 

• If the group size allows, form small groups of three or four. Otherwise, share with another person. Allow about two minutes for each person’s response to the following: “Describe what the term “fasting” means to you.” 
• Ask each group to prepare one brief sentence to share with the larger group in response to the phrase. Give about two minutes for the group to determine their one-sentence statement. 
• Thank each group for their contribution. 

Engage

Invites exploration and interaction (35% of lesson time)

Because of the length of today’s text, ask for two or three volunteers to share in the reading of the scripture. One suggestion for dividing the reading: 

Reader 1: verses 1–5 
Reader 2: verses 6–9 
Reader 3: verses 10–12 

Preface the reading of the scripture with this background: 

Today’s text begins the final section of the book of Isaiah (chapters 56–66). This section is generally known as Third Isaiah. The Israelites have returned from Babylonian captivity to a land devastated by war. The temple is destroyed along with many sacred places. There is a sense of people wanting to return to their former ways. They are using pious forms of worship and fasting to show their faithfulness. However, God is not pleased with their behaviors and has definite directions for the future. 

As the scripture passage is read, listen carefully for the way the prophet Isaiah tells the people God wants them to establish right relationships with God and others. 

After the reading, form three discussion groups. Have at least one copy of the scripture section assigned for each group along with the following directions: 

• Select a leader and a person to take notes. 
• Appoint someone to read your assignment and report two or three significant insights back to the whole group. 

Group 1 (verses 1–5): 

• How does the text describe the people as faithless and unrighteous in their fasting? 
• Are there aspects of our congregational life that are becoming too comfortable or routine (faithless or unrighteous)? 

Group 2 (verses 6–9a): 

• Identify what Isaiah describes as “faithful fasting.” 
• How is, or how could, our congregation engage in faithful fasting according to Isaiah’s direction? 

Group 3 (verses 9b–12): 

• Describe the divine promise declared in the “If…Then” statement. 
• How does the statement feel considering the circumstances we face in our congregation and the community we serve? 

Respond

Takes the learners from hearing to doing (35% of lesson time)

Recent Doctrine and Covenants scripture texts highlight the need to look anew at how we approach worship and our concern for upholding justice for the needy. 

Assign one scripture passage to each group. 

• Ask the group to report one or two significant points back to larger group. 
• Ask the participants to identify how the scripture passage calls the congregation to respond faithfully. 
• Give specific examples of ways the congregation can model mission based on the scripture. 

Doctrine and Covenants 163:4a 

God, the Eternal Creator, weeps for the poor, displaced, mistreated, and diseased of the world because of their unnecessary suffering. Such conditions are not God’s will. Open your ears to hear the pleading of mothers and fathers in all nations who desperately seek a future of hope for their children. Do not turn away from them. For in their welfare resides your welfare. 

Doctrine and Covenants 163:10b 

Do not turn away in pride, fear, or guilt from the One who seeks only the best for you and your loved ones. Come before your Eternal Creator with open minds and hearts and discover the blessings of the gospel anew. Be vulnerable to divine grace. 

Doctrine and Covenants 165:3e 

Oneness and equality in Christ do not mean uniformity. They mean Unity in Diversity and relating in Christ-like love to the circumstances of others as if they were one’s own. They also mean full opportunity for people to experience human worth and related rights, including expressing God-given giftedness in the church and society. 

Send

Explores how the lesson might be lived (10% of lesson time)

Read Doctrine and Covenants 163:10 a. 

Collectively and individually, you are loved with an everlasting love that delights in each faithful step taken. God yearns to draw you close so that wounds may be healed, emptiness filled, and hope strengthened.

Consider and declare in affirmation statements, as a group: How has God gifted and prepared you as a congregation, to fulfill the mission challenges you identified in your small groups? 

Bless

Time of prayer, praise, blessing, and hope (5% of lesson time)

Close by singing or reading “To Be Your Presence” CCS 351. 

Send Forth with these words: May God’s Spirit inspire you to see injustice and to repair the breach as peacemakers for Christ’s mission. Amen. 

Focus Scripture Passage

Isaiah 58:1–12

Lesson Focus

When we work for justice, we walk closely with God and one another.

Objectives

The learners will…

• engage with today’s scripture passage through the spiritual practice Dwelling in the Word.
• identify situations where selfishness harms others and brainstorm ways we can be kinder in our everyday lives.
• reflect on how to be reconcilers and advocates of justice.

Supplies

• Bible
• Random assortment of props
• Pens or pencils
• Candle
• Lighter
• Dwelling in the Word handout, one for each student (end of lesson)

Note to Teacher

In preparation for this lesson, read “Exploring the Scripture” for Isaiah 58:1–12 in Sermon & Class Helps, Year B: Old Testament, pp. 42–43, available through Herald House.

Gather

Activates background knowledge, prepares, and motivates for lesson (15% of total lesson time)

Invite the students to share about how they were advocates of justice. Encourage them to share about a time they stood up for something they believed in: being an advocate of justice in their world.

Engage

Invites exploration and interaction (35% of lesson time)

Today’s scripture passage comes from the Old Testament book Isaiah. It is important to understand that this book was written for a group of people who were trying to understand who God is and how to be the best they could be. Our job in the 21st century is to take these ancient writings and find value and meaning in them for our lives today. In the passage we are about to explore, God was calling out the Israelites for their hypocrisy. They believed their fasting made them righteous and worthy. However, they were not being just, fair, or caring for the poor and oppressed. Therefore, this passage became a call and challenge to look at fasting as a way to live equality, fairness, love, compassion, and justice.

Dwelling in the Word: A Spiritual Practice

Explain that we are participating in a spiritual practice known as Dwelling in the Word. Spiritual practices give us the opportunity to connect with God, ourselves, and sometimes our communities. Invite students to be comfortable. They may sit in their seats or lie down comfortably; just ensure they can focus intentionally on this exercise.

Read the scripture passage aloud and allow time for quiet reflection.

Pass out writing utensils and the handout to reveal just the scripture. Read the scripture aloud a second time. This time invite students to underline or highlight words or phrase that speak to them. Allow time for quiet reflection.

Invite students to flip to the questions on the Dwelling in the Word handout. Read the scripture aloud a third time. Allow time for quiet reflection.

Give the class an opportunity to reflect and share their experience. If one feels drawn to share a written question aloud to the class, allow space for sharing.

Respond

Takes the learners from hearing to doing (35% of lesson time)

Note to Teacher

In preparation for class, find random fun props for students to use in this activity.

Activity

Oftentimes our own needs and selfishness get in the way of our ability to be kind, caring, fair, or just. God calls us to refrain from the negative aspects that keep us from being our best selves—those things that keep us from being kind, respectful, just, or caring for one another. It is important to look within our own lives and see where we can be just and kind to others, instead of our own selfish characteristics taking over.

Create groups of three or four students. Have each group brainstorm three different scenarios in which selfishness gets in the way of letting our lights shine (or of being kind). You may give examples such as cutting the lunch line, bullying, or stealing an item from a friend. Next, have students create a skit acting out the injustice. Have them plan on two skits: (1) the injustice towards someone, and (2) an alternative solution using kindness or fairness. For example, if a group is acting out a scene about bullying, the first skit can simply be about the bully intimidating their victim while the bystanders just watch. The second skit could involve an individual stepping in to stand up to the bully with kindness. Pass out a prop item to each group and challenge them to use the prop in their skit. After each group brainstorms, plans, and prepares their skits, have them each share their skits with the class.

Optional

If you have extra time or want to allow the class to be creative, have them act out several scenarios.

Send

Explores how the lesson might be lived (10% of lesson time)

The final verse of today’s passage reads, “Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.”

At that time the repairers of the breach would help rebuild the physical Jerusalem who was struggling to stay together amid exile, persecution, and damaged structures. Today we can look at “restorers of the breach” as those who are peacemakers and reconcilers.

Ask: As advocates of justice, how can you become a restorer of the breach? How can you bring reconciliation and peace where it is needed?

Note to teacher

You may share a personal story of how you or someone you know has been a “restorer of the breach” and brought about reconciliation or peace in a challenging situation. You may ask students to respond with their own stories of being or seeing “restorers of the breach.”

Bless

Time of prayer, praise, blessing, and hope (5% of lesson time)

Set a candle where it is visible to all in class. Ask for a volunteer to light it. Close with a prayer challenging the class to think of how their own light can spread kindness and love and how they can be advocates of justice.

Isaiah 58:1–12
False and True Worship

1 Shout out, do not hold back!
    Lift up your voice like a trumpet!
Announce to my people their rebellion, 
    to the house of Jacob their sins.

2 Yet day after day they seek me 
    and delight to know my ways,
as if they were a nation that practiced righteousness
    and did not forsake the ordinance of their God;
they ask of me righteous judgments, 
    they delight to draw near to God.

3 “Why do we fast, but you do not see?
    Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?”
Look, you serve your own interest on your fast day,
    and oppress all your workers.

4 Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight 
    and to strike with a wicked fist.
Such fasting as you do today
    will not make your voice heard on high.

5 Is such the fast that I choose,
    a day to humble oneself?
Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush, 
    and to lie in sackcloth and ashes?
Will you call this a fast,
    a day acceptable to the Lord? 

6 Is not this the fast that I choose: 
    to loose the bonds of injustice,
    to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, 
    and to break every yoke?

7Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
    and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover them,
    and not to hide yourself from your own kin?

8 Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
    and your healing shall spring up quickly;
your vindicator shall go before you,
    the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.

9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
    you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am.
If you remove the yoke from among you,
    the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,

10 if you offer your food to the hungry
    and satisfy the needs of the afflicted,
then your light shall rise in the darkness 
    and your gloom be like the noonday.

11 The Lord will guide you continually,
    and satisfy your needs in parched places, 
    and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden, 
    like a spring of water,
    whose waters never fail.

12 Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;
    you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
you shall be called the repairer of the breach, 
    the restorer of streets to live in.

Dwelling in the Word

As you engage with the scripture passage listen to what the Spirit is trying to say to your soul.

What words, images, or phrases are speaking to me in this text?

What is God’s invitation to me in this scripture?

What is God’s invitation to our community in this scripture?

What is the relevance of this scripture in today’s world?

What does this passage tell us about God? 

Focus Scripture Passage

Isaiah 58:1–12 

Lesson Focus

God love us unconditionally and blesses us immensely. In return we respond as generous disciples to share this love and these gifts with others.  

Objectives 

The learners will… 

• learn what God expects of us through an Old Testament story. 
• explore our response as generous discipleship in Community of Christ. 
• brainstorm their gifts of time, talent, treasure, and testimony, and ways to use those gifts as a disciple. 

Supplies 

• Bible  
• The Boy Who Cried Wolf, by B.G. Hennessy and illustrated by Boris Kulikov (Simon & Schuster, 2006, ISBN 978-0689874338) (available as book, audio book, or video) 
• Community of Christ Sings (CCS) 
• Sheets of paper cut into fourths, crayons or markers, large piece of paper, tape 
• Butcher paper or dry erase board 
• Bottle cap or lid for each student, printed or written words “Time, Talent, Treasure, Testimony” 
• Crayons, stickers, beads, Mod Podge, magnets, glue 
• Trashcan 

Notes to teacher

In preparation for this lesson, read “Exploring the Scripture” for Isaiah 58:1–12 in Sermon & Class Helps, Year A: Old Testament, pp. 42–43, available through Herald House. 

Gather

Activates background knowledge, prepares, and motivates for lesson (15% of total lesson time)

Greet students by name as they enter the classroom. Invite them to join you in a circle for a story seated in chairs or on the floor. Read The Boy Who Cried Wolf by B.G. Hennessy. Alternatively, you could find a version of the classic story online or simply tell the familiar tale. 

Ask the students: 

• Why did the shepherd boy tell everyone he saw a wolf when there really wasn’t one? 
• What happened when there really was a wolf coming after the sheep? 
• Have you ever told someone you would do or not do something, and then break your promise? What happened with that person after the fact? 
• Have you ever pretended to be someone or something you are not? What happened? 
• Have you ever done something just to get attention? Did it work? What happened? 

Say: Today’s scripture passage is about a time the Israelites were confused and did things to benefit them rather than praise God like they proclaim. 

Engage

Invites exploration and interaction (35% of lesson time)

Say: Do you know what it means to fast? (Listen to responses.) Not to be fast, like to move quickly. To fast means to eat little or no food. Often people do this as a religious practice. There are many reasons why people do this. Can you think of any? (Listen to responses.) Some people spend time praying or studying when they would otherwise be eating. Others donate to the poor the money they would have spent on food. A common practice is to fast before taking the Lord’s Super (Communion), as you prepare to take the emblems and remember what they symbolize. Often fasting is a community activity because people fast with others. 

Say: Today’s scripture passage takes place after the Israelites returned from exile in Babylon. Traditionally they fasted to remind themselves of their past oppression of the poor and the need to repent. Now they thought God punished their behavior by sending them to exile, so if they fasted God would repay their good deeds. They were surprised their attempts did not make a difference with God (Sermon & Class Helps, Year A: Old Testament, p. 42). 

Read Isaiah 58:1–9a, adapted (end of lesson).

Draw a big speech bubble on a large piece of paper and write the Community of Christ mission statement inside. 

Cut sheets of paper into fourths and give each student two pieces. Have students each write or draw on one piece an action that matches the mission statement (sharing toys, greeting a new student) and an action that contradicts the mission statement (cutting in line, cheating at a game) on the other piece. For smaller classes you may make additional pieces yourself ahead of time or ask students to make more than one pair. As the students finish, collect their papers and shuffle them into a pile.

Say: The Israelites said they were fasting to please God. But at the same time they were behaving in ways that did not match God’s vision for peaceful creation. This poster represents who we say we are as a church. Our mission statement is, “We proclaim Jesus Christ and promote communities of joy, hope, love, and peace.” Let’s decide which actions truly do this…and which do not.

One at a time have a student select a paper from the pile and read it the class. Together decide if the action depicted fulfills the mission statement or not. If it does, tape it on the poster. If it does not, crumple it up and throw it in the trashcan.

—Idea from worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.com. Used with permission.

Respond

Takes the learners from hearing to doing (35% of lesson time)

Say: God loves us unconditionally. “Faithful disciples respond to an increasing awareness of the abundant generosity of God by sharing according to the desires of their hearts…” (Doctrine and Covenants 163:9). As faithful disciples we decide to return these blessings by loving and serving others.

Community of Christ calls this A Disciples’ Generous Response. These actions and choices should be heart-felt and honest, and not like the Israelites who treated others unfairly while claiming to serve God.

The Discovery

Read the story:

A man was exploring caves by the seashore. In one of the caves he found a bag full of hardened clay balls. It was like someone had rolled clay balls and left them out in the sun to bake. They didn’t look like much, but they intrigued the man so he took the bag out of the cave with him.

As he strolled along the beach, he would throw the clay balls one at a time out into the ocean as far as he could. He thought little about it until he accidentally dropped one of the balls and it cracked open on a rock. Inside was a beautiful, precious stone. Excited the man started breaking open the remaining clay balls. Each contained a similar treasure.

He found thousands of dollars’ worth of jewels in the three remaining clay balls. Then it struck him—he had been on the beach a long time and had thrown maybe close to 50 clay balls into the ocean waves along with their hidden treasures. Instead of thousands of dollars in treasure, he could have taken home tens of thousands, but he just threw it away.

—Adapted from https://counselingessentials.org/its-what-on-the-inside-that-counts-lunch-bunch-lesson/. Used with permission.

Say: Which was more important for the clay balls–the outside or the inside? (the inside) The Israelites were putting on a show on the outside, to fast for God, but on the inside they were still being unfair and unkind to each other.

• Does God want our outside appearances to look fancy and have us pretend to be helpful…or does God want our insides to be kind and compassionate?

Write TIME, TALENT, TREASURE, and TESTIMONY across the top of a board or butcher paper. Draw a line under the four words and vertical lines between the words. 

Say: Besides unconditional love, God has given us a variety of gifts. One type of gift is time–we can spend time with people and do things for others.

• What are some ways you could share your gift of time? (List their responses on the chart. Examples include reading to younger kids, visiting elderly people who cannot leave their home, helping your parents with a household chore.)

A second type of gift from God is your talent—we each have special abilities, and we can use these to bless others.

• What are some talents you could share with others? (List their responses on the chart. Examples include singing or playing music in church, writing a testimony or prayer for church, leading a group of students in a new game to get to know each other.)

Another type of gift is your treasure—most often we think of money, but we also have other tangible gifts we can offer.

• What are some examples of treasure you have that you could share with God and others? (List their responses on the chart. Examples include put money in the offering plate, donate to Outreach International or other worthy organizations, give unused toys or clothing to those in need.)

Another type of gift we have is our testimony—this is telling our friends about Jesus and sharing about our experiences of being Jesus’s disciples.

• What would you tell a friend to help them get to know Jesus? (List their responses on the chart.)

Send

Explores how the lesson might be lived (10% of lesson time)

Give each student a bottle cap or small lid. Write or print “Time, Talent, Treasure, Testimony” small enough that the entire phrase will fit inside each lid.

Time
Talent
Treasure
Testimony

Cut a circle around the TTTT paper so the circle will fit inside the lids. Decorate as able and desired with crayons and stickers. Place the paper circle inside a lid. Add extra decoration such as beads as available and desired. Pour Mod Podge into the lids so that everything inside is covered. Assure the students the glue will dry clear. Allow to dry completely and glue a magnet to the back. Students may retrieve their creations next week after the glue dries clear. Note: It takes about a week for the glue to go from white to clear.

—From https://www.themiddleschoolcounselor.com/2015/02/its-what-on-inside-that-counts-lunch.html?spref=fb. Used with permission.

Say: Always remember God loves us and blesses us immensely. In return God does not wish for us to put on a fancy show. Instead as generous disciples following Jesus we are asked to respond by treating others with kindness and compassion and to share our gifts with others. 

Bless

Time of prayer, praise, blessing, and hope (5% of lesson time)

Sing together “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” CCS 499.

Isaiah 58:1–9a, adapted

1 The Lord says, “Shout out loud. Don’t hold back.
Shout out loud like a trumpet.
Tell the people about the things they have done against God.

2 Then they will want to learn my ways
and obey the commands of their God.
They will ask me to judge them fairly.
They will want God to be near them.

3 They say, “To honor you we had special days
when we gave up eating. But you didn’t see.
We humbled ourselves to honor you, but you didn’t notice.”
But God says, “You do what pleases yourselves on these days
and you are unfair to your workers.

4 On these special days when you do not eat,
you argue and fight.
You hit each other with your fists.
You cannot do these things as you do now
and believe I will listen to your prayers.

5 This is not the kind of special day I want.
This is not how I want people to be sorry for their behavior.
6 Instead I want you to free the people you have put in prison unfairly.
Free those to whom you are unfair.
Free them from their hard labor.

7 I want you to share your food with hungry people.
I want you to bring poor, homeless people into your own homes.
When you see someone who has no clothes, give them yours.
Don’t refuse to help your own relatives.

8 If you do these things, your light will shine like the dawn.
Then your wounds will quickly heal.
Your God will walk before you,
and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind.

9 Then you will call to the Lord, 
and the Lord will answer you, “Here I am.”